Cuckfield Historic Character Assessment Report

October 2005

Sussex Extensive Urban Survey (EUS) Roland B Harris

Cuckfield

Historic Character Assessment Report October 2005

Roland B Harris

Sussex Extensive Urban Survey (EUS)

in association with Mid Sussex District Council and the Character of West Sussex Partnership Programme

Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

The Sussex Extensive Urban Survey (Sussex EUS) is a study of 41 towns undertaken between 2004 and 2008 by an independent consultant (Dr Roland B Harris, BA DPhil MIFA) for East Sussex County Council (ESCC), West Sussex County Council (WSCC), and Brighton and Hove City Council; and was funded by English Heritage.

Guidance and web-sites derived from the historic town studies will be, or have been, developed by the local authorities.

All photographs and illustrations are by the author.

First edition: October 2005. Copyright © East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, and Brighton and Hove City Council 2005

Contact:

For West Sussex towns:

01243 642119 (West Sussex County Council)

For East Sussex towns and Brighton & Hove:

01273 481608 (East Sussex County Council)

The Ordnance Survey map data included within this report is provided by West Sussex County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey. Licence 100018485. The geological map data included within this report is reproduced from the British Geological Map data at the original scale of 1:50,000. Licence 2003/009 British Geological Survey. NERC. All rights reserved.

The views in this technical report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of English Heritage, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, or the authorities participating in the Character of West Sussex Partnership Programme.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to acknowledge the advice, assistance, and support of Bob Connell, John Mills, Mark Taylor, Peter Ross, Keith Watson and Mike Hicks (West Sussex County Council); Dr Andrew Woodcock (East Sussex County Council); Graham Fairclough (English Heritage); Dr Mark Gardiner (Department of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, The Queen’s University of Belfast); Dr Annabelle Hughes; Heather Warne; and staff at the county records offices, English Heritage, and the library of the Sussex Archaeological Society.

Cover photo: The Old Vicarage from South Street, Cuckfield.

4 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Contents

List of maps, tables and other illustrations 6

1 INTRODUCTION 7

2 SETTING 10

3 HISTORY 12

4 ARCHAEOLOGY 18

5 STATEMENT OF HISTORIC URBAN CHARACTER 24

6 HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH FRAMEWORK 31

7 NOTES 32

5 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

List of maps, tables and other illustrations

Fig. 1. Location of Cuckfield within Sussex. Fig. 2. Cuckfield Park from South Street. Fig. 3. The 13th- and 14th-century church of the Holy Trinity, the direct successor to the Norman church. Fig. 4. The former Kings Head, South Street. Fig. 5. The Old Vicarage, rebuilt c.1780. Fig. 6. The former grammar school. Fig. 7. The Talbot Inn – considerably smaller than in its coaching heyday. Fig. 8. Congregationalist chapel, Broad Street. Fig. 9. The former workhouse, Ockenden Lane. Fig. 10. The Queen’s Hall, High Street. Fig. 11. The church of the Holy Trinity: view of nave looking east. Fig. 12. Detail from 1638 manorial map of Hayworth and Trubwick, showing Cuckfield Fig. 13. Crundens, South Street. Fig. 14. Attrees, High Street. Fig. 15. 22 South Street: façade of 1722 to 17th-century timber-framed house. Fig. 16. Regency style at Cuckfield: 4 and 5 High Street. Fig. 17. Detail of W Budgen’s 1809 Sergison estate map, showing Cuckfield. Fig. 18. Cuckfield tithe map.

Table 1. Sussex EUS Historic Character Types Table 2. Sussex EUS chronology Table 3. Summary of assessment of Historic Urban Character Areas (HUCAs) for Cuckfield

Map 1. Extent of Cuckfield EUS study area Map 2. Solid and drift geology with 5m contours Map 3. Ordnance Survey 1st Series 25” (c.1875) Map 4. Historic buildings Map 5. Period 5 (1066-1149) Map 6. Period 6 (1150-1349) Map 7. Period 7 (1350-1499) Map 8. Period 8 (1500-1599) Map 9. Period 9 (1600-1699) Map 10. Period 10 (1700-1799) Map 11. Historic Character Types (2005) Map 12. Historic Character Type areas showing principal period from which present character is derived Map 13. Historic Urban Character Areas (HUCAs) Map 14. Historic Environment Value (HEV) Map 15. Suggested extent of medieval Cuckfield Park

6 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

• archaeological and historic environment 1 INTRODUCTION research and management. • informing strategic and local policy. 1.1 Background to the project • underpinning urban historic land and buildings This report is an archaeological, historical, and management and interpretation. historic urban character assessment of • encouraging the integration of urban historic Cuckfield. It is part of the Sussex Extensive characterization into the wider process of Urban Survey (henceforth Sussex EUS) that 1 protecting and enhancing urban character. examines 41 towns across the ancient county. The Sussex EUS forms part of a national 1.2.2 Objectives programme of such surveys initiated by English Heritage in 1992. The national programme is Key objectives of the project include the: already well underway, with roughly half the • synthesis of previous archaeological and English counties having been completed or historical work. currently undergoing study. • creation of a Geographic Information System As the surveys have progressed, the approach (GIS) that maps and allows the analysis of has developed. In line with recent surveys, the archaeological events, monuments and urban Sussex EUS includes more modern towns, the th plan components using information obtained main significance of which stems from the 19 from a variety of sources. and 20th centuries. Another recent innovation is the introduction of the characterization concept, • analysis of the origins and development of comparable with the map-based techniques each town by establishing and examining its adopted by historic landscape characterization. principal plan components and existing standing This approach was developed in Lancashire structures. (2000-4), and is further refined in Sussex. • identification of county-wide Historic Character The Sussex EUS has been funded by English Types and attribution of the types to different Heritage, and supported in kind by the areas within each town. commissioning authorities: East Sussex County • preparation of a Statement of Historic Urban Council, West Sussex County Council, and Character for each town, to include assessment Brighton and Hove City Council. A wide range of of archaeological potential and Historic stakeholders (including district and borough Environment Value. councils, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) has supported the project. • identification of gaps in the understanding of the past occupation and historical development In West Sussex the Sussex EUS forms part of of character of each town through the the Character of West Sussex Partnership development of a Research Framework. Programme,2 aiming to provide guidance and advice on the protection and enhancement of all • advice to local authorities on the development aspects of character in the county. Other historic of guidance derived from the town studies. environment projects come under this umbrella: • Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) of 1.3 Outputs Sussex The principal outputs of the project comprise: • Intensive Urban Survey of Chichester and • Historic character assessment reports. Fishbourne Documents (of which this is one) that, separately • Local Distinctiveness Study of West Sussex. for each town, summarize the setting and pre- urban activity; synthesize current archaeological and historical research; describe the 1.2 Aims and objectives development from origins to the present day; assess the surviving historic character and 1.2.1 Aims historic environment value; and set out a The aim of the Sussex EUS is to deliver a framework for future research on the historic unique and flexible tool to aid the understanding, environment of the towns. exploration and management of the historic • Geographical Information System (GIS) for the qualities of 41 of the most significant towns in historic environment of each town. The GIS Sussex with a view to: underpins the analysis and mapping of the town

7 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield reports, and is available to local authorities as a 1.4.4 Statement of Historic Urban unique tool to support their decision making. The Character EUS-generated GIS data includes historic buildings and archaeological data, and mapping Whereas sections on history and archaeology of areas for which Historic Character Type, (above) explore the development of Cuckfield historic land use, and Historic Urban Character over time, this part of the report considers and Areas have been defined. The GIS data will be defines the physical evidence of the past in maintained and updated by the West Sussex today’s townscape. It does this by means of a County Council Sites & Monuments Record character-based approach, operating at three (SMR) and the East Sussex County Council different scales: areas of common Historic Historic Environment Record (HER). Character Type; larger and topographically familiar Historic Urban Character Areas; and the • Informing historic environment management whole town. Assessment is made of the Historic guidance specific to each local planning Environment Value of each of the Historic Urban authority, for the 41 EUS towns and Winchelsea, Character Areas, taking account of the produced under the new Local Development archaeological potential. Frameworks, and subject to formal consultation procedures. 1.5 Principal sources • Background papers for the Sussex EUS Given its obviously medieval origins, Cuckfield project. Documents that include the project has been the subject of surprisingly little recent design, a summary of the methodology and an archaeological and historical interest. The overall bibliography. principal sources drawn on during the writing of this report are listed below. Many other sources 1.4 The structure of this report have been used too, and full references have been given by use of endnotes. 1.4.1 The Setting This introductory section describes the 1.5.1 History topography, geology, communications, and pre- There are several local histories of Cuckfield, urban archaeology of the town. including that undertaken for the Victoria County History, published in 1940.4 There is, 1.4.2 History however, no authoritative and scholarly account of the history of the historic town, although The history of Cuckfield in this report can be a Heather Warne has undertaken research over brief summary only. It aims to synthesize several years and a publication is forthcoming.5 published research, and to provide a chronological overview of the development of the town as seen from documentary sources. The 1.5.2 Archaeology focus is placed on those matters – such as Archaeological investigation of the historic town origins, economy, trade and institutions – that is equally lacking, with no substantial controlled are most closely related to the urban historic excavations in the town. There have been environment today. Aspects of the history of the several minor assessments/watching briefs, parish – such as the manorial history – have however, all unpublished: been published elsewhere, most notably in the 6 Marshalls Manor (High Street) – 1998 Victoria County History.3 Land west of High Street – 20017 1.4.3 Archaeology Holy Trinity Church – 20038 9 The archaeology section of this report draws on Land west of High Street – 2005. published and unpublished reports of The West Sussex Sites & Monuments Record excavations, archaeological assessments, and (SMR) database has been invaluable for records of finds. This section also includes identifying such unpublished sites, and for analysis of historic buildings (listed and non- providing the pre-urban archaeological context. listed) and the topography, the latter drawing on maps of the town from 1638 onwards. Again, this 1.5.3 Historic buildings section follows a chronological structure, and focuses on aspects of the material evidence of Cuckfield’s rich vein of surviving timber-framed the town’s past that relate most closely to the buildings has yet to be the subject of a thorough historic environment today. archaeological study, but recently initial analysis has been begun by Annabelle Hughes.10

8 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

English Heritage’s statutory list of historic accurate in its survey and depiction of detail, is buildings is of use, although many of the the 1638 map of the manor of Haywards Heath, descriptions date from the 1950s and were again including much of Cuckfield:12 there is also necessarily produced without internal inspection. a 1679 copy of a map of 1625, which shows Very limited fieldwork only was possible during details of houses.13 All these maps have been this assessment and focused on correcting digitized and rectified to fit the National Grid to dating derived from such sources, identifying allow comparison with other maps and data. hitherto ignored buildings of historic interest (e.g. RAF vertical air photo coverage of 1947 provides small flint barns and outbuildings of 18th and a useful snapshot in time, as does the modern 19th-century date), and re-evaluating the dating equivalent flown for West Sussex County and function of key buildings and monuments. Council in 2001. All analysis and maps utilize the most recent large-scale Ordnance Survey 1.5.4 Geology and topography mapping (digital MasterMap data). The contextual discussion of the solid and drift geology has principally derived from 1:50,000 1.6 Area covered by the report British Geological Survey digital data. Ordnance The Sussex EUS assessment of Cuckfield Survey Historic 25” maps for Epochs 1-4 (1874 covers the extent of the town c.1874. onwards) have proved invaluable, especially as these have been used in digital form, allowing Cuckfield is one of five towns in Mid Sussex overlaying with each other and with other data. District that have assessments such as this. The The 1843 Tithe Map (West Sussex Record others are Burgess Hill, East Grinstead Office) captures Cuckfield at a large scale at the Haywards Heath and Lindfield. Although end of its important coaching era, while the 1809 Lindfield adjoins Haywards Heath, the two Budgen map of the Sergison estate provides the settlements remain quite distinct and, thus, each earliest detailed and topographically reliable map has its own report. of much of the town.11 Earlier still, but less

Fig. 1. Location of Cuckfield within Sussex. Mid Sussex District is highlighted and points locate the 41 Sussex EUS towns.

9 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

The principal street of the town is the generally 2 THE SETTING north-south High Street/South Street. Suburbs extend to the east (almost as far as Haywards Heath) and to the north (joining Whitemans Green). The town is at the centre of Cuckfield Civil Parish (the origins of which lie in the creation, c.1875, of what became in 1894, Cuckfield Urban District14), and just south-east of the centre of the much larger historic parish (now largely Cuckfield Rural Civil Parish and Haywards Heath Civil Parish): the scale of this parish had a considerable influence on the viability and growth of the town.

2.2 Geology (Map 2)

2.2.1 Solid geology Along with the whole of Sussex, the rocks of the Cuckfield area are sedimentary. Descending the higher land of the High Weald towards the Low Weald, the rocks get more recent. All of Cuckfield lies on a succession of sandstones and mudstones (commonly clays) of the Hastings Beds (Lower Cretaceous). The majority of the EUS study area to the north and east of the church lies on the mudstones of the Upper Grinstead Clay. This is surrounded by a band of calcareous sandstone (the Cuckfield Fig. 2. Cuckfield Park from South Street. Stone Member), most extensive on the south- west side of the town where it underlies the 2.1 Topography (Map 2) whole churchyard and extends beyond the settlement as far as Laines Farm. A narrower Cuckfield is situated within the High Weald, on a (c.100m) band of mudstone (Lower Grinstead southwards-projecting spur of a minor east-west Clay) surrounds this, and falls within the eastern ridge. The ridge is partially separated from the and western extremities of the EUS study area. bulk of the High Weald (and the protected landscape of that name) to the north by the Clay ironstone, or siderite mudstone, provided valley of the upper part of the River Ouse (which ore for the Wealden iron industry, and a post- flows mainly southwards to reach the sea at medieval forge (Cuckfield Forge) and blast Newhaven, 29km distant). The river passes furnace (Cuckfield Furnace) lie outside the EUS c.3km north-east of the town centre. The study area – respectively, 800m and 1300m southern end of South Street and the parish south of the churchyard (near Mackrell’s Farm). church of Holy Trinity are the lowest parts of the These are located on fault lines marking the village at c.93m OD. The main street edge of the Upper Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation. These ironworks were in use at least (successively South Street and High Street) 15 steadily climbs the spur to the north of this so between c.1583 and c.1613. that it is at c.100m OD at the junction with Broad Street and c.111m OD at the junction with 2.2.2 Drift Geology Leighton Lea. Thereafter the High Street follows There is no drift geology within the EUS study the crest of the spur so that it maintains a similar area for Cuckfield, although the damming of the level at the junction with London Lane. To the tributary of the River Adur for mill ponds has east and west of the town, the land falls away resulted in a build-up of alluvium on the southern sharply into typical High Weald gills oriented to edge of Cuckfield Park. the south-west and to the south-east.

10 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

2.3 Communications 2.4 Evidence for pre-urban activity 2.3.1 Water The upper reaches of the River Ouse extend to 2.4.1 Prehistoric the north of Cuckfield, passing within 3km of the No prehistoric finds or features have been found town. The navigability of the river in the area was through controlled excavation in the town, and demonstrated by canalization from Lewes at there has been only one prehistoric findspot, least as far as Upper Ryelands Bridge (3.5km located just outside the EUS study area: north-east of Cuckfield), and apparently to Staplefield,16 in 1790-1812, by the Upper Ouse • Wealdacre, Courtmead Road – Neolithic (4000 Navigation Company: significantly, the company BC to 2351 BC) leaf-shaped arrowhead found was dominated by Cuckfield men.17 The upper when digging the foundations of the house in reaches of the River Adur (or one of its 1924 [SMR reference: 4198 – WS779]. tributaries) passes 900m south of Cuckfield, and is crossed by the A272 at High Bridge: there are 2.4.2 Romano-British smaller gill streams feeding this passing within Although the north-south London-Hassocks c.200m to the north-west and c.200m to the Roman road (Margary road no. 150; SMR north-east of the town. However, the River Adur reference: 1932 – WS4200) passes 1.3km east appears to have been little used for navigation of the EUS study area, no Romano-British finds above Mockbridge, over 12km downstream of or features have been found through controlled this point, and 19th-century revival of the river excavation in the town, and there have been no was limited to canalization between Shoreham chance findspots of this period within the EUS and Baybridge (West Grinstead), from 1807.18 study area. 2.3.2 Road 2.4.3 Anglo-Saxon Since 1988 Cuckfield has had a bypass and now th No 11 -century or earlier medieval finds or lies just off the A272. Previously this Heathfield- features have been found through controlled Winchester road passed through the centre of excavation in the town, and there have been no the town, along South Street, High Street and chance findspots of this period. Broad Street. The north-south High Street continues 500m northwards to Whitemans Green where it divides into roads to Balcombe 2.4.4 Implications of pre-urban (B2036) and to Handcross (B2115/B2114). The archaeology latter leads through Crawley to London and was The paucity of known pre-urban archaeology at the principal road between London and Brighton Cuckfield is likely to reflect the lack of controlled 19 when turnpiked in 1770. excavations rather than an actual absence. Certainly, prehistoric finds should be anticipated 2.3.3 Railway in any excavation in the area. This potential was demonstrated during the survey of the bypass Cuckfield has never been directly on the railway, route in 1988 (c.450m south of the town) when but the London and Brighton Railway (from 1846 80 pieces of worked flint were discovered, 15 of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway – which were identifiably as early as the LBSCR) was authorized to build a line passing Mesolithic, with others dating from the Neolithic close to the town, connecting London and to Bronze Age.22 Similarly, a scatter of Brighton. This opened in 1841, and Cuckfield prehistoric flakes and scrapers was found in was served by a station 1.8km east of the town, Cuckfield Park, near Old Mill cottage, c.800m at Haywards Heath. A line from the burgeoning south-west of the town [SMR reference: 5391 – channel port at Newhaven opened in 1847, WS4569]. Usage of this area of the Weald joining the London line south of Haywards Heath between the Late Iron Age and the Norman at Keymer Junction (Burgess Hill). Both these Conquest means that finds and features from lines remain in service.20 The main line was these periods may also occur in future electrified in 1933.21 excavations within Cuckfield.

11 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Priory by William de Warenne (lord of the Rape 3 HISTORY of Lewes) in 1091-8.26 In the absence of architectural or archaeological evidence, there is 3.1 Origins: 11th-13th centuries no means of determining whether this was a new church or already in existence: the absence of the church in Domesday Book (1086) is not 3.1.1 Place-name significant as it is demonstrably unreliable in its 27 The name Cuckfield is found in the earliest recording of churches. th th spellings of the late 11 and 12 centuries as A vicarage was ordained in 1250 by the Bishop beginning Cucu- or Kuku-, suggesting that the of Chichester, with the rectorial tithes remaining place-name simply means ‘cuckoo-inhabited with Lewes Priory.28 open country,23 although the reliability of the early forms – and the resultant etymology – have 24 3.1.3 Urbanization been disputed. No manor or settlement at Cuckfield is recorded In the Weald, the field (Old English feld) element in Domesday Book, which of itself is is strongly associated with ridges and, more inconclusive. By 1240 the manor was held in specifically, areas of later medieval ‘downland’ or demesne by the Warennes:29 as the church was common. The ‘open country’ sense of feld in the possession of the Warennes in the 1090s suggests that woodland was thinner than this strongly suggests that the manor too was elsewhere in the Weald or had been cleared and 25 held by the lords of the rape at the end of the kept so by grazing. The topography, geology, 11th century. Needless to say, the earlier vegetation and history of the Cuckfield area is existence of the manor of Cuckfield does not completely consistent with this. imply the existence of a village or town. The earliest evidence for permanent settlement at Cuckfield is the granting, in 1255, of a Tuesday market and an annual fair on the Nativity of St Mary (8th September). Five other markets were granted in Sussex in the early 1250s (at Wadhurst, Burwash, Salehurst, Robertsbridge and Hailsham) that, with Cuckfield, represent a largely successful spurt of growth in the formal economy of the Weald.30 While the granting of the market at Cuckfield doubtless formalized an existing use, it indicates expansion of permanent settlement at this time, strongly suggesting that, like Wealden villages in general, a recognizable trading settlement quickly developed here during the second half of the 13th century.31

3.2 The later medieval town

3.2.1 Economic history A grant in 1312 made provision for the market to be on a Monday and for an annual fair at Holy Trinity. That the latter was an addition to the September fair is evident from the fact that both fairs were held in 1465.32 While the 1296 lay subsidy roll for Cuckfield was combined with that for Hurst (i.e. Hurstpierpoint), Fig. 3. The 13th- and 14th-century church of the Holy Trinity, there were 30 taxpayers in the Villata de the direct successor to the Norman church. Cokefield in 1327, suggesting a population of perhaps around 150.33 This assessment has 3.1.2 Church been used to rank what was evidently already a The earliest reference to Cuckfield is to the small town as ninth in the county in terms of parish church, which was granted to Lewes wealth, although the Cuckfield figures relate to

12 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield the extensive parish rather than a defined the growth of Brighton accelerating in the late borough, and the Cinque Ports are omitted. By 18th century, the potential of a more direct route 1524, Cuckfield was ranked seventh in terms of to London via Cuckfield was realized with the wealth in the county (again, using parish figures turnpiking of the route (1770).41 and excluding the Cinque Ports). This period was marked by rapid growth (555%) also seen at other Wealden towns (Horsham and Battle) and reflecting its productive hinterland for timber (and perhaps iron), a key Wealden export.34 Notwithstanding the difficulty of using complex and partial records of taxes, and the comparison of figures for Cuckfield’s substantial parish against those for more closely defined boroughs, it is evident that the late medieval settlement was a substantial and successful small town. The record of local traders in the 1397 poll tax – which includes five tailors – is consistent with this.35

3.2.2 Church The documented later medieval history of the parish church was uneventful, although the architectural evidence shows that the building was substantially modified c.1330 and in the 15th century (see section 4.2.1).

3.3 The town c.1500-1800 Fig. 4. The former Kings Head, South Street. A direct result of burgeoning road traffic was the 3.3.1 Economic history number of inns. In the early 18th century these The market charter when renewed by Charles II comprised the Pied Bull (or the Bull – later a in 1670 shows that market day had become workhouse), the White Lion, the Lambcroft, and Friday.36 Friday was still market day in 1792, the White Hart, but by the end of the century two coaching inns dominated: the Kings Head and when there were also fairs on Whit Thursday, 42 25th May, 16th September, and 29th November.37 the Talbot. In addition to the weekly market, permanent Wealden iron production had a significant impact shops were in evidence: shopkeepers, including on the economy of the town, with the beginning two saddlers and a shoemaker, are recorded in of the period coinciding with the development of th 38 the late 17 century. the blast furnace, expanding markets, and rapid During this period Cuckfield’s position on the growth in the industry. The first English blast trans-Weald routes changed dramatically. furnace had been established 17km from Cuckfield, at Newbridge on Ashdown Forest, in Modest provision for travellers is suggested by th the 1638 map of most (but not all) of the town, 1496. The industry expanded rapidly in the 16 century, thereafter declining to the point of which shows two inns or taverns (the Talbot and th what may be the Pied Bull or the Kings Head):39 extinction by the end of the 18 century. There were 16 ironworks of this period within 10km of see Fig. 12. In the survey of inns and alehouses 43 of 1686, provision of stabling and Cuckfield. Local families were owners and operators of furnaces and forges in the late 16th accommodation in the town can hardly have th expanded. With less than 20 stablings and less and early 17 centuries: Ninian Burrell operated than 10 guest beds, the town was on a par with Holmsted furnace from 1574 (possibly jointly nearby Lindfield, and insignificant when with Walter Covert, of Slaugham Place), with the compared to the major Wealden towns for most famous ironmaster in the family, his son travellers: Horsham provided 365 stablings and Walter Burrell (1600-71) living at, and adding to, 83 beds, on the main road from London to Ockenden. Henry Bowyer, builder of Cuckfield Brighton, via Steyning; and East Grinstead Place from c.1575, was an ironmaster, as was his father John.44 Less well documented is the provided 247 stablings and 103 beds, on the th main road from London to Lewes and employment of workers, though the 17 -century (increasingly) Newhaven and Brighton.40 With

13 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield parish registers record forgeman, filler at the church was institutionally robust, its impact on furnace, founder, blacksmith and collier.45 the brotherhood of St Mary the Virgin (evidently in existence – and using the church – by the Of diverse trades, the leather industry appears th 51 early 16 century) was immediate and terminal. the most important. In addition to the leatherworkers referred to above, 17th-century Although no Roman Catholic recusants were Cuckfield was the home to curriers and recorded in Bishop Compton’s census of 1676, tanners.46 The Ordnance Surveyor’s draft map of seven years later one was reported by the vicar. 1808 records a tanyard on Brook Street (now No Protestant nonconformity was recorded in Tanyard Farm), 1.6km north of the town. 1676 either, but, if a true record, then nonconformism must have flourished soon after, Although outside the town, the disparking of since 20 Anabaptists and one Quaker were Cuckfield Park (east of the church and south of 52 recorded in 1724. The Baptists built a chapel at Broad Street: the ancient manor house seeming Polestub, just north of the EUS study area, in to have been located immediately south of the 53 1772 (since 1842 a Zion Strict Baptist chapel). churchyard) in, or by,47 the 16th century is of significance, not least since half of the park was acquired, along with a quarter of the manor of 3.3.3 Urban institutions Cuckfield, by Henry Bowyer in 1575. Henry then immediately built Cuckfield Place (confusingly renamed Cuckfield Park in the 19th century) on a new site south-west of the town.48 This new park may have partly overlain a rare feature of the High Weald – common arable land: more certainly, this also extended east of the London- Brighton road, with its former function preserved in the name Laines Farm.49 From a parish total of around 560 in 1524, the population rose to around 1,050 by 1676, and to around 1,215 in 1724. Thereafter population continued to grow, reaching 1,693 by 1801.50 The predominance of parish, rather than town, statistics and the diverse source of these figures, mean that they should be taken as indicative of general trends only.

3.3.2 Church and religion

Fig. 6. The former grammar school. Cuckfield’s free grammar school was founded in the early 16th century by Edmund Flower, a citizen of London. His will of 1521 endowed the school that he had already funded for ‘certeine years past’. Given that in 1498-9 he was warden of the Merchant Taylors Company, and their first master in 1503-4, is possible that he established the school c.1500. Flower’s founding of the school and burial at Cuckfield, strongly suggests that he was a native of the town. His will placed, or rather confirmed, responsibility for the school on the Cuckfield brotherhood of St Mary the Virgin: such fraternities were often involved in education. The initial foundation was under- endowed, however, and the necessary additional

funding came from endowments of the Reverend Fig. 5. The Old Vicarage, rebuilt c.1780. William Spicer, rector of Balcombe, in 1528: in This period began with the drama of Henry VIII’s effect he was the second founder of the school.54 Dissolution of the Monasteries. Whilst the parish

14 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

A workhouse was purchased in 1738 by the The advent of the railways brought this high Middleton and Burrell Charity (created by point of the coaching town to an abrupt end. legacies of 1713 and 1717, respectively). The After early fruitless proposals, more serious building had already been rented as a consideration of a London to Brighton main line workhouse, but, presumably recently, had been took off in the 1830s and included, in 1835, a the Bull Inn.55 proposal for a line past Whitemans Green and Cuckfield churchyard. Evidence presented to a In the 18th century (and early 19th century), select committee in 1836 showed that a route stocks were apparently located on South Street, through Steyning and Shoreham was opposed where the Sergison memorial horse trough is by many in Cuckfield, who favoured the eventual now located.56 route – approved in 1837 and opened in 1841 – through Haywards Heath, passing 2km east of 3.4 Expansion: c.1800-2005 Cuckfield. Evidently, the inevitable demise of coaching was recognized and local economic 3.4.1 Economic history optimism for the new communications route to was reflected in a reference as late as 1840 to The early 19th century saw the peak in London- the proposed station as that ‘for the Towns of Brighton coach traffic, as the seaside resort 58 Cuckfield and Lindfield’. In the event, of expanded rapidly. Increased road travel meant course, Cuckfield missed out almost entirely on that the granting of a new and more direct th the late 19 -century expansion of population and London-Brighton turnpike route – approximately economy that marked the railway towns of on the line of the present A23 – in 1808 (opened Sussex. Moreover, the station at Haywards 1813) had little effect on Cuckfield. A sign of this Heath began to attract businesses and is the improvement that continued to be made to residences, aided by the availability of land for the Cuckfield road: the road south of the town to development after enclosure of the heath (under High Bridge was lowered in 1810, and in 1835 an Act of Parliament in 1858 and settled by an the road there was slightly diverted to use a new 59 award in 1862 ), so that Cuckfield was soon bridge. At this date, public coaches could, on eclipsed by the new town formed largely within occasion, manage the London to Brighton its own parish. journey in under four hours (and rarely exceeded seven hours), but the Brighton season meant The impact on Cuckfield of its new neighbour that private carriages provided the predominant was more than relative stagnation, as traffic and passing trade.57 economically active residents relocated to the new town. For example, Alfred Curtis was a grocer, draper and insurance agent in Cuckfield in 1845, but by 1862 had moved his business to become the first postmaster in Haywards Heath. Likewise, Charles and Daniel Knight, respectively a Cuckfield ironmonger and tradesman, were both based in the emerging new town in the 1860s.60 Decline of the coaching inns in Cuckfield was more immediate and predictable. The economic use of the revitalized River Ouse, with its terminus at Ryelands Bridge in Cuckfield parish, failed still more dramatically, ironically its last flurry of activity being the supply of building materials to the railway.61 The ancient September fair survived the arrival of the railway, and continued to use the main street until 1871 when moved to a field near the Rose and Crown. It did not survive the move by more than a few years.62 Although the weekly market appears to have lasted into the 19th century, the suggestion that it was directly transferred to Haywards Heath in 1868 seems suspect:63 the latter was on a Wednesday (then on Tuesday), was fortnightly, and appears to Fig. 7. The Talbot Inn – considerably smaller than in its have been independently initiated by Thomas coaching heyday.

15 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Bannister, the auctioneer at Paddockhall Road, House in Church Platts (built 1898) was used, Haywards Heath.64 before the present vicarage in Broad Street was acquired in 1945.69 Expansion of the churchyard In the face of such decline in the 19th century, – albeit as a cemetery under a secular burial Cuckfield hung on to its administrative status. board – in 1855 reflected the early growth of Despite its burgeoning population and the Haywards Heath (until 1865, without its own creation of a Local Board in 1872, Haywards 70 church or ecclesiastical parish). The cemetery Heath remained part of Cuckfield parish, and it expanded further in the inter-war and post-war was not until 1894 that a new civil parish was periods. created. At this point the central area of the historic parish of Cuckfield became Cuckfield Nonconformism strengthened in the 19th century, Urban District.65 Remarkably, Cuckfield’s name with a body of Congregationalists meeting from was chosen in preference to that of Haywards 1828. The chapel of that date was replaced by Heath when the two were merged into a single the present building in 1869.71 urban district in 1934, under the Local Government Act 1929, and this survived until the reorganization of local government in 1974.66 The dominance of Cuckfield’s name in 1934 was the result of conscious historicism, and inclusion in the urban district reflected perception that it was now a suburb of Haywards Heath rather than that it had any residual urban characteristics. Although Cuckfield has avoided being engulfed by expansion of Haywards Heath in the manner of Lindfield, the 20th century has seen the economy of the former town become increasingly suburban, with a move to one based on commuting and retired population. In this, of course, Cuckfield is little different from most villages (or, rather, former villages) in Sussex. Suburban expansion through construction of housing has been restricted, however, with inter- war development limited to spacious housing along Courtmead Road and council housing on Glebe Road. Post-war housing has seen the expansion of the Glebe Road estate, the similarly-scaled creation of nearby Barrowfield, a small estate at Leyton Lea, infill north and south Fig. 8. Congregationalist chapel, Broad Street. of Broad Street, and redevelopment within the former grounds of large houses at Warden 3.4.3 Urban institutions Court, Hatchlands, Mytten, Tower House, and th th Knowle. During the 19 and 20 centuries Cuckfield has seen the development of a range of social and The changing administrative areas mean that th public functions that did not exist previously. The 19 -century population figures are not detail of these is beyond the scope of this brief comparable, but very slow growth in the early account, but the salient institutions are included. 20th century is evident with a population of 1,899 in 1911, rising to 2,186 in 1951, and then more The town’s educational function was expanded rapidly to 3,266 in 2001.67 with the creation of a National School (1822) on the northern edge of the town, near the Rose 3.4.2 Church and religion and Crown. In 1846 permission was granted by the Court of Chancery to apply the endowment The church of Holy Trinity has remained intact of the declining grammar to the National School. as an institution throughout this period, although The merged school utilized the old grammar the parish that it serves has been reduced by the school site, which was expanded by the creation of new ecclesiastical parishes of purchase of eight adjacent cottages between Staplefield in 1848, and St Wilfrid’s (Haywards 1854 and 1890.72 Heath) in 1865.68 The vicarage suffered demolition of the adjacent tithe barn c.1926, and The Nonconformist equivalent of a National was itself sold off in 1937: initially the Clergy School – a British School – was opened as a day

16 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield school in 1852 in the Congregationalist Chapel in the late 19th century were held at the Talbot in Broad Street. A school was then built adjacent Hotel.78 Cuckfield’s role in law and order to the chapel in 1869, and this closed in 1907.73 declined, however, as new provision was made in Haywards Heath. Here, a combined Court House and police house opened in Paddockhall Road in 1888, marking the demise of the petty sessions (in 1888) and county court (in 1890) in Cuckfield.79 A police station was in existence at what is now 5 Church Street by 1841, and this survived until c.1945.80 Increasing social activities in the 19th century led to a need for a dedicated public space – as opposed to use of the Talbot – and this was finally provided by the opening of the Queen’s Hall in 1897.81 Since 1980 this has also housed the town museum. Sports facilities appeared during this period. In 1905 the old mill stream, to the south of the town, was dammed for swimming and a club formed: the pool survived until c.1950. The recreation ground was given to the town in 1920, saw tennis courts added pre-World War Two, and has since gained a playground.82 Cricket was played in a regular and organized fashion

(and extremely successfully) in Cuckfield from Fig. 9. The former workhouse, Ockenden Lane. the early 19th century, initially on the Earl of Reorganization of education following the Butler Abergavenny’s land south of the churchyard Education Act (1944) meant secondary school (see Fig. 17) until this was purchased for the provision partly leaving the town, with grammar extension to the burial ground in 1855. Cricket school pupils attending Haywards Heath lapsed until a new ground was found – adjacent Grammar, which opened at Harlands Farm to Ockenden – in 1868, moving to Cuckfield Park Estate in 1958. This became a comprehensive in (where it remains) in 1891.83 1974.74 Meanwhile, the new secondary modern school built in Cuckfield in 1957 has become a comprehensive school itself (Warden Park School).75 The National School had become a primary school still occupying the old grammar school buildings until, in 1991, the Holy Trinity C of E Primary School relocated to its present buildings on Glebe Road. The old workhouse in Ockenden Lane was supposedly rebuilt, or more likely (given the architectural evidence) repaired, in the early 19th century, albeit in ignorance of the charity freehold,76 and operated a business to defray running costs – the Manufactory of Woollen and Linen Cloths – as late as 1835. It was soon rendered obsolete, however, by the opening of the new Cuckfield Union Workhouse in 1845 (later Cuckfield Hospital, 600m north of the village) to serve the extensive Cuckfield Poor Law Union, created in the light of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act.77 With the opening of the new Cuckfield Union Workhouse in 1845, the old workhouse in Ockenden Lane was used as a Drill Hall and, Fig. 10. The Queen’s Hall, High Street. from 1872, as the County Court. Petty sessions

17 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

modifications are consistent with, though not 4 ARCHAEOLOGY proof of, the development of permanent settlement at Cuckfield c.1250. 4.1 Origins: 11th-13th century (Maps 5 and 6) 4.1.2 Excavations The little that is known of the medieval town 4.1.1 Buildings through archaeological excavation comes from a minor evaluation and watching brief to the rear of Heathfield House, High Street (though the site is known as Marshalls Manor). The site was located 25m from the present High Street frontage. The investigation found evidence of continuous occupation from the second half of the 13th century to the end of the 15th century. Two slots may have been made for the sole- plates of a building of the late 13th century or early 14th century.85 Although lack of evidence for earlier periods may not be conclusive, this site is important for providing evidence of occupation from the later 13th century.

4.1.3 Topographic analysis (Maps 5-6) In the absence of significant archaeological or historical evidence for the origins and early development of Cuckfield, the surviving and historically mapped topography assumes a greater significance. Little previous analysis has been undertaken beyond the suggestion that the medieval town marks the junction of ridge-ways that approach from the north and east and which here descend to the Low Weald.86 There are other distinctive features in the topography of Cuckfield, however, that may relate to the earliest development of the settlement.

An obvious feature of the broadly north-south route is that South Street (the southern Fig. 11. The church of the Holy Trinity: view of nave looking east. continuation of High Street) has a dog-leg. This leaves the church and churchyard set back from The parish church of Holy Trinity is the only the principal route. It is most likely that the building surviving from this period. An earlier properties south-east of the dog-leg (including Norman building apparently underlies the the former grammar school and the former Kings present church, its nave corresponding with the Head) represent encroachment onto an open three western bays of the present central aisle of space. This interpretation is supported by the the nave, and its square-ended chancel survival of minor lanes (Church Street and 84 projecting just east of the present chancel arch. Church Platt) that make this block almost an th The earliest visible fabric dates from the mid-13 island, and by the absence of well-defined century, however, when the church was tenement boundaries. There is a similarly-sized enlarged. A south aisle was added to the nave: block to the north-west of South Street, encircled the south arcade was evidently only three bays by Ockenden Lane, and this may also represent long, maintaining the length of the Norman nave. encroachment on the open space. This open To the west a tower was added, as high as the space would have measured c.100m x c.70m, string-course marking the bottom of the bell- or, if the properties bounded by South Street and chamber, and excluding the later buttresses. The Ockenden Lane also represent encroachment, narrow Norman chancel must have been rebuilt as much as c.100m x c.130m. In either case, the th at this time too, as the 13 -century south aisle churchyard forms the southern edge of this continues a further bay east of the nave of this space, set back from the projected line of South period, providing a south chapel. These Street without its dog-leg.

18 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Significantly, the surviving footpath that continues the route of Courtmead Road to the churchyard would have joined the south-east corner of the putative market place. London Lane and Broad Street are both recorded on the 1638 map, confirming that neither results from 18th-century improvements to the London- Brighton road. While large triangular market places were a feature of other Wealden villages (such as Rotherfield and Ticehurst: at the latter the triangle is still marked by roads),88 the scale at Cuckfield and the likely presence of three early roads suggest different origins. Rather, the presence of multiple routes fanning out more probably represents early routes spreading out across what had once been open ‘downland’, as seen locally in the road pattern at Haywards Heath (where much has survived 19th-century urbanization) and, on a more comparable scale, at Staplefield Common. This correlates well with the ‘downland’ association of the feld component of the place-name Cuckfield (see section 3.1.1). Evidently, this area of early (i.e. pre-Conquest) ‘downland’ at Cuckfield was near – perhaps even within – the medieval park and, thus, it is necessary to consider their relationship. After disparking in the 16th century the remnant old park was located east of the church and south of Broad Street (see above). The location of a park pale near the junction of Broad Street and London Lane is attested by the name ‘Hatchlands’, attached to the land between and Fig. 12. Detail from 1638 manorial map of Hayworth and immediately west of the junction. This is Trubwick, showing Cuckfield (WSRO Add Ms 28784). recorded as Hatchland in 1578 and probably was the home of Richard at Hecce in 1327 and The evidence for an open space along a main 1332.89 The derivation of hatch is Old English route, with a church set back from the route at hæcc, meaning gate: better-known examples are the edge of the open space strongly suggests found at entrances to Ashdown Forest – that Cuckfield conforms to the unusual Coleman’s Hatch, Chuck Hatch and Plawhatch. development of Wealden settlements identified Other place-name evidence south and south- by Mark Gardiner. In this a market, or focal, east of Hatchlands corroborates the location of place developed along a major route, followed the park: Horsgate is recorded from 1606,90 by the building of a church by c.1100 (to serve a Pagesgate (now Riseholme) on the 1638 map, widely dispersed parish of farmsteads), and only th and Old Park Farm (now Warden Park School) later (typically the second half of the 13 on the tithe map of 1843. Moreover, the century) saw the development of a permanent fieldscape of this area is evidently a post- settlement: examples include Mayfield, 87 medieval imposition, with straight boundaries. Wadhurst, Ticehurst and Wartling. The model The park was recorded as containing 229 acres appears wholly appropriate to the known history, in 1439,91 which almost exactly equals the extent archaeology, and topography of Cuckfield. of Old Park Farm (129 acres) and Lodge Farm The second distinctive feature of the topography (102 acres): these have been identified by of Cuckfield is the divergence, or fanning out, of Heather Warne as representing the medieval London Lane, Broad Street and Courtmead park (see Map 15).92 Road. The last only came into existence as a th The location of the medieval park strongly made-up road in the 20 century, but was suggests that the distinctive pattern of radiating previously a track and is recorded as a boundary roads of Broad Street, London Road and on Budgen’s 1809 map: its absence on the 1638 Courtmead Road derives from ‘downland’ or map is insignificant as there is almost no common that was separate from, and probably cartographic detail south of Broad Street.

19 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield antedates, the park located to the south. During a single roof, so that the clerestory is no longer the later medieval period, this area comprised functional. common, or town, meadows: the triangle north of Eight houses in the town date from the late Broad Street was divided amongst the tenants of medieval period, as also does the former barn in the manor, and the lower triangle (between Ockenden Lane. These comprise 3 Churchyard Broad Street and Courtmead Road) was divided 93 Cottages; 7 Church Street; The Friary, South between the vicar and the Sergisons. The Street; Crundens, South Street; Ockenden position of the park – and the early manor house House, 21 High Street; The Corner House and – also illustrate the constraints on the growth of th the Old Barber Shop, High Street; 3 High Street; the town as it emerged in the 13 century. Along and Maltman’s, High Street. All of these houses with the absence of regular burgage plots, this are timber framed, but most have been re- indicates that seigneurial planning at Cuckfield fronted or substantially remodelled so that very was limited to the acquisition of the market little medieval fabric is visible externally. charter and that development of permanent Crundens is the exception, although even here settlement occurred in the restricted space its timber frame cannot be easily read behind the around the market: Cuckfield was a permissive 95 94 stucco. rather than a planned settlement. 4.2.2 Excavations 4.2 Later medieval town (Map 7) The evaluation and watching brief to the rear of 4.2.1 Buildings Heathfield House, High Street (the Marshalls Manor site) showed continuous occupation in this part of the town throughout the period up to c.1500.96 The evaluation of land west of the north end of the High Street recovered a scatter of pottery from the 14th century onwards, probably resulting from manuring or the disposal of waste from nearby houses rather than occupation of the site itself.97

4.2.3 Topography (Map 7) While the street pattern of the historic core of Cuckfield was largely in place in the preceding period, encroachment on the putative former market place occurred during this period. This created what are now known as Church Platt and Church Street and, if the northern block also results from encroachment, Ockenden Lane. On the basis of architectural evidence, the development of the area immediately north of the church must have begun by the early 15th century. The house known as The Friary, South Street, includes timber framing from the 15th century that appears to survive from a larger house later remodelled and reduced in size. The cross-wing of timber-framed Crundens, South th Street, has also been dated to the 15 century, Fig. 13. Crundens, South Street. in this case to c.1420 or slightly later, with the element between this and the former Kings Head The parish church was substantially extended still earlier. The grammar school was certainly c.1330. A north aisle was added to the nave, founded c.1510, and the surviving building which also gained a clerestory and gained an contains 16th-century features: its location additional eastern bay. The heightening of the implies that infill was largely complete by the 16th tower and the addition of buttresses probably century. If encroachment also formed the area occurred at this time. A new chancel was built, between South Street and Ockenden Lane, then with the nave aisles continued eastwards to form this appears to have been coeval with that on north and south chapels. Further modifications in th the other side of South Street. Ockenden House, the 15 century included the raising of the aisle 21 South Street dates from the 15th century, as and chapel walls and re-roofing the church with

20 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield does The Barn (formerly a barn to Ockenden earlier use of sandstone and, especially, timber Manor). framing.

4.3 The town c.1500-1800 4.3.2 Excavations The evaluation and watching brief to the rear of 4.3.1 Buildings Heathfield House, High Street (the Marshalls Manor site) produced only small quantities of 16th and 17th-century pottery, followed by an increase of activity in the 18th century.99

4.3.3 Topography (Maps 8-10) There was little major re-organization of Cuckfield between 1500 and 1800 to upset the medieval topography. The most significant change in the area was the disparking of medieval Cuckfield Park and the replacement of the medieval manor house (apparently immediately south of the churchyard – probably on the plot of land marked ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ on Sergisons’ 1809 map:100 Fig. 17) by the present Cuckfield Place c.1575, but this seems to have had no impact on the urban topography. Likewise development of industry (most notably ironworks and tanning) in the parish occurred outside the town: these appear to have continued medieval industries. Fig. 14. Attrees, High Street. Cuckfield has 27 surviving buildings that date from between 1500 and 1800: 11 from the 16th century, seven from the 17th century, and nine from the 18th century. Nearly all of the 16th and 17th-century buildings are timber framed. Although the group of 16th-century houses lacks many examples of visible continuous-jetties, the tile-hung example at 1 Church Street shows the adoption of this two-storied and typically urban form that marked the demise of open halls: indeed, this example on the putative (though by this date disappearing) market place may have been part of a longer range.98 Good externally visible timber framing of this period can be seen at the cross-wing added to the medieval house at Maltman’s, High Street; at Beam Ends, 28 and 29 South Street; in elaborately decorated form at The Sanctuary, High Street; and on a (admittedly modest) manorial scale at Ockenden. The small number of 18th-century buildings is slightly misleading as some buildings, such as the almost entirely rebuilt Old Vicarage of th c.1780, are not included on account of Fig. 15. 22 South Street: façade of 1722 to 17 -century timber-framed house. fragmentary evidence of earlier origins. Likewise, most pre-1700 buildings in the town were Some small-scale change is discernible. The remodelled or re-fronted (or partly re-fronted) 1638 map shows little occupation of the west during the 18th and 19th centuries. In both new side of the High Street north of Broad Street, build and re-fronting, the 18th-century which is consistent with the archaeological architecture of Cuckfield is almost entirely of evidence (see above), and could suggest that brick, heralding a marked change from the the later 16th century and the 17th century saw

21 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield some stagnation in the town, although this is not similar to the 18th-century houses. Although evident from the (parish) population figures (see typically urban or industrial housing forms such above). The 18th-century revival – so evident as terrace housing do not feature in the early from historical sources, the limited archaeology, 19th-century architecture, the urban influence of and Budgen’s 1809 map – saw infill of vacant Regency Brighton and Lewes is evident in plots, but no obvious expansion of the town or genteel buildings like 4 and 5 High Street, with creation of new streets. its mathematical tiles and three-storey bow windows. 4.4 Expansion: c.1800-2005 With the decline of coaching and the bypassing (Maps 1, 3 and 12) of Cuckfield by the railway, large-scale villa construction was much less of a feature of the 4.4.1 Buildings and topography town between 1840 and 1880 than at nearby Haywards Heath or Burgess Hill. Some examples were built, however, as at Hatchlands (demolished) and at Mytten and Tentercroft. Hatchlands and Mytten marked the beginning of the development of the triangle of land between London Lane and Broad Street. Semi-detached housing came to Cuckfield on a significant scale only c.1900, with the ribbon development along the main road towards Haywards Heath and the Edwardian examples at the southern end of London Lane. The inter-war years saw contrasting housing development. Spacious detached housing began to appear on the south side of Broad Street and, more consistently, along newly made-up Courtmead Road. Outside the EUS study area, the council estate of Glebe Road comprised modest semi-detached houses. Within the study area, post-war development has seen the continued infill of the south side of Broad Street with detached houses, and small developments of more modest groups of houses (still mostly detached) within the grounds of Hatchlands and Mytten, and on both sides of the northern end of the High Street. Suburban expansion has been small-scale and contained, however, so that in 2005 the pre-1800 historic core of Cuckfield is only partially encircled by new housing (on the north and, mainly, east sides), with the west and south sides of the town abruptly meeting

parkland and agricultural land largely as they Fig. 16. Regency style at Cuckfield: 4 and 5 High Street. have since the permissive settlement first The majority of the buildings in Cuckfield date emerged on its constrained site. Although from this period, partly as a result of loss of blurred by 19th-century expansion of the gardens earlier buildings, but also through expansion of of Ockenden Manor and the cemetery the town in the 20th century, especially since extensions to the earlier churchyard, this 1945. interface of historic town and countryside is still an unusual survival in Sussex. There are 11 buildings dating from the early 19th century, and this is varied and scattered infill

22 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Fig. 17. Detail of W Budgen’s 1809 Sergison estate map, showing Cuckfield (WSRO Segison 526/1).

Fig. 18. Cuckfield tithe map, 1843 (copy in WSRO).

23 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

the sandstone school. Likewise, although timber framing is prevalent amongst 17th-century 5 STATEMENT OF HISTORIC buildings, sandstone is increasingly used: for th example in the early 17 -century wing at URBAN CHARACTER Ockenden, and at Marshalls. The 18th century saw a complete dominance of brick, although 5.1 Town summary this again was very much a locally available material, and brick continued to be the main 5.1.1 Historic environment overview building material thereafter: a key exception being the sandstone Queen’s Hall of 1897-1901. Without its function as a market town and, later, Clay tiles are used for roofs, tile-hanging (18 as a coaching station on the bustling London- examples) and mathematical tiles (one Brighton road, Cuckfield has missed much of the example). Horsham Stone is a flaggy sandstone development seen elsewhere in the second half used for roofing (10 examples, seven of these on th th of the 19 century and the 20 century. This has pre-1800 buildings). had the effect of preserving a very high proportion of the pre-c.1840 buildings and 5.2 Historic Character Types topography of the town. Although survival has been high, Cuckfield was much smaller than many other medieval market towns and never 5.2.1 Historic Character Types and achieved borough status, so the numbers and chronology (Maps 5-12) range of buildings are smaller than, say, those Historic Character Types (HCTs) for Sussex EUS found at Lewes, Rye or Steyning. The areas Lane/road [includes all historic routes] around the church, South Street, and the High Street are particularly notable for their mixture of Major road scheme [modern ring roads, motorways etc.] medieval and post-medieval buildings. Less Bridge/causeway visible is the archaeological evidence of the Regular burgage plots medieval town, the origins of which lie in the pre- Irregular historic plots [i.e. pre-1800] urban market place that attracted the church by Proto-urban th the late 11 century and, in the second half of Vacant [reverted from built-up to fields etc.] th the 13 century, the permanent settlement of a Market place small town. The potential of this archaeology has Church/churchyard [i.e. parish] hardly begun to be realized through Cemetery archaeological excavation. Religious house [abbey, priory, convent etc.] 5.1.2 Historic environment designations Great house (Map 4) Castle Town defences There are 78 listed buildings and monuments in Other fortification the EUS study area, although 22 are separately Barracks itemized tombs in the churchyard (mostly 18th School/college century). Of the remaining 56 buildings and Public monuments, one is Grade I, three are Grade II*, and 52 are Grade II. Of these, 10 predate 1500; Farmstead/barn 11 are 16th century; seven are 17th century; nine Mill are 18th century; 13 are early 19th century; five Suburb [estates and individual houses] are from 1840-1913; and one (a telephone box) Retail and commercial [i.e. post-1800] th 101 is from the 20 -century inter-war years. Extractive industry [e.g. sand pit, brickfield] Cuckfield has a Conservation Area. There are no Heavy industry [e.g. steel or automotive industry] Scheduled Monuments in the town. Light industry [e.g. industrial estates] Utility 5.1.3 Historic building materials Quay/wharf [inc. boatyards] Harbour/marina/dock With the exception of the church (largely of local Station, sidings and track sandstone – Cuckfield stone), the pre-1500 buildings of the town are all timber framed, albeit Inland water often with sandstone plinths. The survivals from Orchard the 16th century present similar dominance of Market garden [inc. nursery] timber framing, with the important exception of Allotments

24 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Race course and is structured to take account of both Sports field [inc. stadia, courts, centres etc.] upstanding and buried physical evidence of the Park past. It enables the generation of maps (e.g. Informal parkland [e.g. small civic areas, large grounds] Maps 5-10) showing the changing land use of the urban area throughout the history of each Seafront [piers, promenades etc.] town, and, through use of the Geographical Beach/cliffs Information System developed as part of this Table 1. Sussex EUS Historic Character Types. assessment, for simple interrogation of any area Historic Character Types have been developed in the town to show all its known past land uses. in the Sussex EUS to describe areas of common character by reference to generic types found 5.2.2 Historic Character Types in across all 41 towns. Historic function is often the Cuckfield (Map 11) key determinant of character type, hence the Although Historic Character Types represent term ‘Historic Character Types’ and the time- county-wide types, modern Cuckfield is depth implicit in many of the types in Table 1 characterized by its particular concentration of (e.g. regular burgage plots). The types also some types and the comparative rarity, or reflect the character of these towns, and, thus, absence, of others. For example, the they are different from those that would be identification of significant areas of irregular applied nationally or to another county. historic plots and a complete absence of regular The Historic Character Types have been burgage plots reflects the fact that the small mapped to areas within the towns (polygons in market town was not planned, but was a small the Geographical Information System that permissive settlement. underpins the Sussex EUS). Whilst character type can prove consistent throughout a large 5.3 Historic Urban Character th area (for example, across a late 20 -century Areas (Maps 13 and 14) housing estate), different historic use of part of that area has been used as a basis for subdivision. This is to allow the application of the 5.3.1 Defining Historic Urban Character types in Table 1 to the mapped polygons Areas (HUCAs) throughout the 15 periods of the EUS Whereas Historic Character Types have been chronology (Table 2). This means that for any applied to areas of the Sussex towns with area within the town, or mapped polygon on the consistent visible character and historical Geographical Information System, both the development – and are mapped across the present Historic Character Type and the past whole history for each town – Historic Urban land use(s) are defined. Character Areas (HUCAs) represent meaningful areas of the modern town. Although Period Date similar areas are found in many towns, HUCAs Period 1 500,000BC-AD42 are unique, can include components of different Period 2 43-409 history and antiquity, and usually represent Period 3 410-949 amalgamation of several Historic Character Types. Period 4 950-1065 Period 5 1066-1149 Thus, HUCA 1 in Cuckfield combines four Period 6 1150-1349 Historic Character Types that represent the Period 7 1350-1499 church/churchyard dating from Period 5 (i.e. Period 8 1500-1599 1066-1149), irregular historic plots dating from Period 5 and Period 6 (1150-1349) that partly Period 9 1600-1699 represent encroachment on an earlier market Period 10 1700-1799 place of Period 5, a school that dates from Period 11 1800-1840 Period 8 (1500-99), a cemetery that has grown Period 12 1841-1880 from Period 12 (1841-80) onwards, a parish Period 13 1881-1913 room that is categorized as public from Period Period 14 1914-1945 13 (1881-1913), and residential infill – or suburb Period 15 1946-present – from Period 12. Combining this complexity into a single HUCA called Church reflects the largely Table 2. Sussex EUS chronology. coherent character of the area today. This This approach gives time-depth to the map- coherence renders HUCAs suitable spatial units based character component of the Sussex EUS, for describing the historic environment of the

25 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

EUS towns, for assessing their archaeological of conservation) the upstanding fabric, potential, Historic Environment Value and for boundaries and archaeology that form the linking to research questions. historic urban environment. The Historic Environment Value (HEV) of each HUCA is Some components of the towns are not included based on assessment of: as HUCAs: roads (other than those that were built as part of a particular development) and • Townscape rarity waterways are kept separate as they frequently • Time-depth or antiquity antedate surviving buildings or the known urban activity. • Completeness. Lesser additional considerations in the 5.3.2 Archaeological potential assessment comprise: Whilst the nature and extent of areas to which • Visibility Historic Character Types have been applied is closely related to the survival of buried • Historic association. archaeology, this assessment considers the The full methodology for assessing Historic archaeological potential at the larger scale of the Environment Value forms part of the annexe to HUCAs. The reasons are twofold: first, the the historic environment management guidance typically smaller scale of areas of common for Mid Sussex District. Historic Character Type could misleadingly imply that high, or even low, archaeological potential is precisely confined, or that archaeological value 5.3.4 Vulnerability is exactly coterminous with the edge of specific The vulnerability of each HUCA is also features (standing or buried); and, second, most considered, although many future threats cannot Sussex towns have had insufficient be anticipated. These brief analyses mean that archaeological investigation to support this this Statement of Historic Urban Character can precision. For this reason, too, there is no be used to focus conservation guidance. grading or ranking of archaeological potential. Rather, the summary of archaeological potential 5.3.5 Research questions is used to inform the overall (graded) assessment of Historic Environment Value of Where relevant, reference is made to questions each HUCA (see below). in the Research Framework for Cuckfield (below, section 6). This referencing links these When considering the archaeological potential of key questions to specific HUCAs, helping ensure the towns, it is important to recognize that th th that any investigation of the historic environment archaeology often survives 19 and 20 -century (such as that as a condition of development, development and that it is misleading to assume under PPG15 or PPG16) is properly focused. complete destruction. Also, whilst pre-urban archaeology (such as the prehistoric, Romano- 5.3.6 Cuckfield’s Historic Urban British, and Anglo-Saxon features and finds that Character Areas (Maps 13 and 14) are likely to be located in the Cuckfield area) tells us little about the towns themselves, it The following assessments of the Historic Urban contributes to wider archaeological research. Character Areas (HUCAs) of Cuckfield commence with those that make up the historic In assessing the likelihood of buried archaeology core. Inevitably, these assessments are more within areas in the towns there has been extensive than those that relate to recent consideration of the potential for archaeology expansion of the town. ‘buried’, or hidden, within later buildings and structures, as well as that for below-ground features. HUCA 1 Church (HEV 4) HUCA 1 lies to the south of the centre of the 5.3.3 Historic Environment Value (Map medieval and modern town, and abuts open 14) countryside to the south. The northern parts of the HUCA overlie the putative medieval market The Historic Environment Value (HEV) of each place, which predates the town. HUCA is assessed here, and expressed as a value from 1 (low) to 5 (high). Such values are Today the area is dominated by the church and iniquitous to some and always subjective, but its churchyard – the latter being considerably here provide a necessary means of consistently extended in the 19th and 20th centuries. There and intelligently differentiating (for the purposes are 31 listed buildings and monuments (30

26 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Grade II and one Grade I), of which 22 are HUCA 2 South Street (HEV 4) tombs in the churchyard (21 of which are 18th century and one of which is 17th century). The HUCA 2 lies on the south-west edge of the Grade I listed church itself dates from c.1250, modern town, and abuts open countryside (in the with significant extension in the 14th century, but form of post-medieval Cuckfield Park). Before the establishment of permanent settlement from directly overlies foundations of a Norman church th (a church is recorded from the late 11th century). the mid-13 century most of the HUCA was a market place, and appears to have been To the north of the church is the well preserved th former grammar school (founded c.1510), the encroached upon during the 15 century. There building originating from later in the 16th century. are 21 listed buildings (all Grade II), of which The area west of the church is dominated by four are Period 7 (1350-1499), three are Period 8 (16th century), three are Period 9 (17th century), buildings associated with the church, including th the clergy house, and the Cottage Homes, or five are Period 10 (18 century) and five are almshouses, of 1881. To the east of the church Period 11 (1800-40). Crundens is one of the and grammar school is a small cluster of earlier earliest and most impressive timber-framed houses including two later medieval timber- houses, with its gabled cross-wing dating to framed buildings: 7 Church Street and tiny 3 1420 or shortly after. Although tile-hung, the continuous jetty at 2 Church Street may have Churchyard Cottages. Other key historic building th materials include Horsham stone roofs (four formed part of a more extensive16 -century buildings) and widespread use of sandstone (the range and is a typically urban form, perhaps a church, grammar school, both lychgates, and shop row. These are two of ten timber-framed most of the churchyard monuments). buildings in HUCA 2, of which many are hidden behind later (especially 18th-century) brick The school extensions (and demolitions) have façades (one of the most interesting brick had the greatest impact on the historic façades is that of 1722 at 22 and 23 South environment, since the churchyard/cemetery Street). Grander brick façades and wholly brick- expansion and the building of the church-related built buildings survive at the former Kings Head houses west of the church have been on open and the former workhouse in Ockenden Lane. land (albeit including the town’s first regular Other key historic building materials include cricket pitch). Otherwise the good survival of Horsham stone roofs (as at Crundens and medieval and post-medieval buildings suggests ‘Hoadleys’ stores), and use of local sandstone that the archaeological potential of nearly all (as bases for timber frames – as at 25a and 26 this HUCA is high. South Street – and as string-courses and quoins The survival of some irregular historic plot on the old workhouse). Historic plots are best boundaries and, especially, the medieval and preserved on the west side of South Street. post-medieval buildings; the visibility of the Although redevelopment of individual buildings historic fabric; and the archaeological potential (most notably where post-war Rosemary give this HUCA a high Historic Environment Cottage, Middle Cottage and Dundas Cottage Value (HEV) of 4. have been built) has been destructive, the HUCA 1 has seen some change in the 20th otherwise good survival of the area of medieval and post-medieval plots and, especially, the century (most notably in 1991 through the th abandonment of school site after nearly 500 buildings thereon, and the potential for 13 - years); through the increase in size of the century and possibly earlier archaeology mean cemetery; and through loss of part of the Old that the archaeological potential of nearly all Vicarage garden to a car park), although this this HUCA is high. appears to have stabilized. The degree of The survival of several plots and, more change coupled with the dominance of the significantly, late medieval and post-medieval churchyard/cemetery mean that although the buildings; the reasonable completeness of the Historic Environment Value of the area is high, historic street-fronts (in the context of what – in vulnerability is only moderate. Perhaps the the case of South Street – has been a functional greatest threat is extension or replacement of high street); the visibility of much of the historic the non-listed buildings, although further fabric; and the archaeological potential give this expansion of the burial ground would further HUCA a high Historic Environment Value reduce the historic abrupt meeting of town and (HEV) of 4. countryside. The combination of commercial pressures on Research questions especially relevant to this parts of South Street, the possibility of infill in the HUCA relate to the putative early market place large gardens south and east of Ockenden Lane, (RQ4, RQ7) and the church (RQ2). and considerable Historic Environment Value

27 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield mean that vulnerability is high. Internal and completeness of much of the historic street-front; shop-front refitting of business premises; minor the visibility of much of the historic fabric; and structural additions; occasional rebuilding of non- the archaeological potential give this diverse listed buildings; and new build are all constant HUCA a high Historic Environment Value and continuing threats to buildings and (HEV) of 4. archaeology. HUCA 3 has seen some change in the 20th Research questions especially relevant to this century, mostly in the form of changes to HUCA relate to the putative early market place commercial premises. The continuing nature of (RQ4, RQ7). such change, and the vulnerability of the few non-listed buildings, coupled with the high HUCA 3 High Street (HEV 4) Historic Environment Value mean that vulnerability is still relatively high. HUCA 3 forms the main commercial centre of the modern town, and was evidently settled – at Broad, or Cuckfield-wide, research questions least in part – as early as the later 13th century. only apply to this area. With the late medieval encroachment on the market place (HUCA 2) it became, along with HUCA 4 Ockenden (HEV 4) parts of South Street, the principal location for HUCA 4 is in on the western edge of the shops and businesses, and this was reinforced medieval and modern town. It comprises what by revitalisation of the town by coaching in the th certainly appears to have been a substantial 18 century – the High Street forms part of the messuage when first recorded in the 16th historic London-Brighton road. There are 21 century, and which has subsequently expanded listed buildings (19 Grade II and two Grade II*), to form a house (now hotel and restaurant) with of which three are Period 7 (1350-1499), four are th th large grounds. Ockenden (Grade II*) has a large Period 8 (16 century), two are Period 9 (17 th L-shaped timber-framed component dating from century), two are Period 10 (18 century), and the 16th century. A sandstone south wing was seven are Period 11 (1800-40). One of the finest added in the early 17th century, and the stone buildings is The Sanctuary (Grade II*): this was th west wing in 1858. A stable block was built to the built in the 16 century as a cross-wing to the th th north-east in the mid- to late 19 century. At this 15 -century house to the south (now a separate time the formal garden was expanded to take in property, The Corner House) and has highly plots to the north. In the late 20th century, the decorative bargeboards. This is one of eight manor house became a restaurant and hotel. timber-framed buildings in HUCA 3. Ostensibly by contrast (although, in fact it is also partly Apart from the landscaping of the garden, there timber framed), the impressive late 17th-century has been no major development suggesting that sandstone façade of Marshall’s Manor (Grade the archaeological potential of this HUCA is II*) is set back from the High Street and was moderate. evidently a non-commercial substantial property th- th The survival of the 16 century manor house, the (the manor is known from the late 16 th 102 th th lack of major 20 -century development, the century ). Late 18 and, especially, early 19 - century houses reflect coach travel, with the visibility and accessibility of much of the historic Brighton-esque Regency style most evident in fabric, and the archaeological potential give this diverse HUCA a high Historic Environment the bow windows and mathematical tiles of 4 and 5 High Street. Value (HEV) of 4. Pre-1800 plots are best preserved on the west While Ockenden has seen no major side of the High Street, but nothing approaches redevelopment, its recent change to commercial the regularity of planned burgage plots. use means that vulnerability is relatively high: a car park and subsidiary buildings have already Although recent redevelopment has been very been introduced. Perhaps the greatest threat is limited, the small-scale evaluation and watching to the setting and historic fabric of the house brief to the rear of Heathfield House (i.e. the (through modification and extension), and to the Marshall’s Manor site) showed the potential for below-ground archaeology. archaeological finds and features from the 13th century onwards. This suggests that for much of Broad, or Cuckfield-wide, research questions only apply to this area. this HUCA the archaeological potential is high. The survival of the late medieval and post- HUCA 5 Hatchlands and Mytten (HEV 2) medieval buildings, together with reasonable preservation of irregular historic plots, the HUCA 5 lies east of the c.1800 town, mostly built over fields and town meadows: earlier this

28 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield appears to have been open ‘downland’. Today over fields that previously had formed part of the the area is dominated by 20th-century residential medieval park of the Warennes. Today the area development, especially the late 20th-century comprises detached 20th-century residential mini-estates of mostly detached houses at development. There are no listed buildings or Ledgers Meadow, Mytten Close and Hatchlands. historic boundaries, although Courtmead Road The latter two overlie the grounds of substantial does follow the line of an ancient trackway. late 19th-century villas – Hatchlands Given the non-urban character of this area until (demolished) and Mytten (surviving). At the relatively recently, the archaeological potential extreme east of the HUCA 5, at the southern end is likely to be limited, although possibly higher in of London Lane and continuing towards the proximity of the historic town. Haywards Heath on Broad Street, smaller semi- detached housing dates from the late 19th and The quality of the 20th-century development, the early 20th centuries. Scattered (or waste-edge) absence of historic buildings or historic earlier houses built outside the former extent of boundaries, and the limited archaeological the town of Cuckfield do survive, and are potential combine to give this HUCA a Historic represented by the four listed buildings (all Environment Value (HEV) of 1. Grade II), of which the Rose and Crown is Period 8 (16th century), Broad Street House is The Historic Environment Value of the HUCA Period 9 (17th century), Yew Tree Cottage is means that its vulnerability is low, with the th greatest threat being that to the probably limited Period 10 (18 century), and Rose Cottage is period 11 (1800-40). All except the latter (brick archaeology. built) are timber framed, and have tile-hanging. Broad, or Cuckfield-wide, research questions There are few historic boundaries, with little only apply to this area. surviving from the earlier fieldscape. Given the non-urban character of this area until 5.3.7 Summary table of Historic Urban relatively recently, the archaeological potential Character Areas (HUCAs) for Cuckfield is likely to be limited, although possibly higher in Table 3 summarizes the assessments made in the proximity of the scattered historic buildings. the individual Historic Urban Character Area The quality of the 20th-century development, the descriptions (above). It provides a simplified absence of many historic buildings, the presence comparison of the assessments across different of some historic boundaries, and the limited parts of the town, and helps to draw out key archaeological potential combine to give this points. As such it supports the preparation of HUCA a Historic Environment Value (HEV) of guidance for the town (see section 1.3). 2. The table shows how Historic Character Types The Historic Environment Value of the HUCA combine into more recognizable Historic Urban means that its vulnerability is low, with the Character Areas (HUCAs). It summarizes the greatest threat being that to the archaeological archaeological potential that, along with historic remains and the historic buildings through any buildings and boundaries, contribute to the rebuilding or extensions. assessment of the Historic Environment Value of each HUCA. The assessment of vulnerability of Broad, or Cuckfield-wide, research questions each HUCA is important for developing only apply to this area. guidance. HUCA 6 Broad Street south (HEV 1) HUCA 6 lies between Broad Street and Courtmead Road, east of the c.1900 town. With the exception of the public car park (carved out of the Old Vicarage grounds), this area was built

29 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

Summary of assessment of Historic Urban Character Areas (HUCAs) for Cuckfield

Historic Character Types (HCTs) Historic Urban Character Area Archaeological Historic Vulnerability (HUCA) potential Environment Value (HEV)

Church/churchyard 1. Church High 4 Moderate Cemetery Irregular historic plots School/college Public Suburb Irregular historic plots 2. South Street High 4 High Irregular historic plots 3. High Street High 4 Relatively high Irregular historic plots 4. Ockenden Medium 4 Relatively high Irregular historic plots 5. Hatchlands and Mytten Limited 2 Low Suburb Public 6. Broad Street south Limited 1 Low Suburb Table 3. Summary of assessment of Historic Urban Character Areas (HUCAs) for Cuckfield.

30 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

6.4 Post-medieval town 6 HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RQ10: What different zones (e.g. social differentiation, or types of activity), were there RESEARCH FRAMEWORK during this period, and how did they change? RQ11: How were the medieval and early post- medieval buildings adapted for new functions 6.1 Pre-urban activity and changing status (e.g. creation of carriageways, or subdivision of hall houses)? Development pressure and opportunities for developer funding mean that archaeological RQ12: Is there any evidence for early post- excavations in the town, or prior to expansion of medieval decline prior to revival in the 18th the town, are more likely to occur than in the century? surrounding area. Thus, archaeological RQ13: What was the socio-economic impact of excavations in Cuckfield should address: coaching on the town? RQ1: What was the nature of the palaeo- environment (ancient environment), and the prehistoric, Roman, and Anglo-Saxon human activity in the area? (NB for the Anglo-Saxon period, the likely ‘downland’ north of Broad Street is a particular area for study).

6.2 Origins RQ2: What was the location, form and construction detail of the Norman (or any earlier) church, and is there any physical evidence for the extent of the contemporary churchyard? RQ3: What was the extent and development of the medieval park, where exactly did its boundary align in the vicinity of the later town, and is there evidence to corroborate the suggested location of the medieval manor house? RQ4: What evidence is there for an early market place? RQ5: What evidence is there for the extent, population, and economic basis of the 13th- century town?

6.3 Later medieval town RQ6: How have tenements developed from the first built-up street frontages to the plots that survive today? RQ7: What evidence is there for encroachment onto an earlier market place north of the church? RQ8: What different zones (e.g. social differentiation, or types of activity: especially consider industry, and strongly related settlement at Whitemans Green), were there during this period, and how did they change? RQ9: What evidence can the standing buildings provide for their function and date (i.e. through dendrochronology), especially those on the main commercial streets?

31 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

7 Notes 15 Cleere, H., & Crossley, D., The Iron Industry of the Weald nd (2 edtn. 1995), 12, 327. 16 1 The 41 towns of the Sussex EUS are: Alfriston, Arundel, As shown on Budgen’s map of 1818: WSRO PAR 30/6/4- Battle, Bexhill, Bognor Regis, Bramber, Brighton, Burgess 5. Hill, Crawley, Crowborough, Cuckfield, Ditchling, Eastbourne, 17 Brent, C., Georgian Lewes 1714-1830 (1993), 21-2; East Grinstead, Hailsham, Hastings, Haywards Heath, Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 65. Heathfield, Henfield, Horsham, Hove, Lewes, Lindfield, Littlehampton, Mayfield, Midhurst, Newhaven, Peacehaven, 18 SMR 1928 - WS5531; Victoria County History 6 (1), 234.

Petworth, Pevensey, Pulborough, Robertsbridge, Rotherfield, 19 Rye, Seaford, Shoreham, Steyning, Storrington, Uckfield, Johnston, G. D., Abstract of Turnpike Acts relating to Wadhurst and Worthing. Chichester and Winchelsea are Sussex (transcript at SAS, c.1948), 6. omitted as they are the subjects of more intensive studies. 20 Farrant, J., ‘Growth of Communications 1840-1914’, in 2 The Character of West Sussex Partnership Programme is Leslie, K. and Short, B. (eds.), An Historical Atlas of Sussex led by West Sussex County Council in conjunction with the (1999), 40-1. borough and district councils, AONB agencies and 21 Griffiths, I. L., ‘Road and rail in Sussex’, in Geography stakeholders. The main aims of the partnership are to Editorial Committee (eds.), Sussex: Environment, Landscape produce a range of interlocking characterization studies; to and Society (1983), 239. produce planning and land management guidance; and to raise public and community awareness of character as a vital 22 Butler, C., ‘A Survey of the Route of the Cuckfield Bypass’, and attractive ingredient of the environment of the county. SAC 128 (1990), 249-51. The full range of characterization studies comprise: 23 Gelling, M. & Cole, A., The Landscape of Place-names Landscape Character Assessments and Landscape Strategy (2000), 269-75; Mawer, A, & Stenton, F.M., The Place- for West Sussex (2005). names of Sussex (1929-30; reprinted 2001), 261. 24 Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) of Sussex (2003- Warne, H., abstract from, Warne, H., & Hughes, A., 8). Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield (forthcoming). Warne also suggests that the feld element could here represent tilled Sussex Extensive Urban Survey (EUS) (2004-8). land. Intensive Urban Survey of Chichester/Fishbourne (2005-6) 25 Gardiner, M. F., Medieval Settlement and Society in the (Chichester District Council). Eastern Sussex Weald (unpubl. Ph.D. thesis, University of Local Distinctiveness Study of West Sussex (2004-6). London, 1995), 80-3. 26 3 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 147-63. Salzman, L. F., (ed.), ‘The chartulary of the priory of St. Pancras of Lewes: Part 1’, SRS 38 (1932), 15. 4 Ibid.; Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield 27 (1912: a posthumous compilation into a continuous narrative Rushton, N., ‘The Parochialisation of Sussex 1000-1086- of the numerous SAC articles of the Rev. Canon J. H. 1291’, in Leslie, K. and Short, B. (eds.), An Historical Atlas of Cooper); Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971). Sussex (1999), 36-7. Heather Warne suggests that the church could be a Saxon minster: Warne, H., abstract from, 5 Warne, H., & Hughes, A., Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield Warne, H., & Hughes, A., Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield (forthcoming). (forthcoming). 6 James, R., An Archaeological Watching Brief at Marshalls, 28 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 163.

High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex (unpubl. Archaeology 29 South-East report, project no. 957, 1998); Butler, C., Some Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 156. Medieval and later activity at Cuckfield, West Sussex: 30 Bleach, J., and Gardiner, M., ‘Medieval Markets and Ports’, Excavations at Marshalls Manor (unpubl. Mid Sussex Field in Leslie, K. and Short, B. (eds.), An Historical Atlas of Archaeological Team report, 2003). Sussex (1999), 42-3. 7 Bennell, M., An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment 31 Gardiner, M., ‘Trade, Rural Industry and the Origins of and Walkover Survey of Land West of High Street, Cuckfield, Villages: some Evidence form South-East England’, in de West Sussex (unpubl. Archaeology South-East report, Boe, G., & Verhaeghe, F., (eds.), Rural Settlements in project no. 1369, 2001). Medieval Europe: Papers of the Medieval Europe Brugge 8 Greatorex, C., An Archaeological Watching Brief at Holy 1997 Conference 6 (1997), 63-73. Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex (unpubl. C. G. 32 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 156. Archaeology report, project no. 02/15, 2003). 33 9 Hudson, W. H. (ed.), ‘The three earliest subsidies for the Griffin, N., An Archaeological Evaluation of Land West of County of Sussex in the years 1296, 1327, 1332’, SRS 10 High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex (unpubl. Archaeology (1910), 177. South-East report, project no. 2046, 2005). 34 10 Cornwall, J., ‘Sussex Wealth and Society in the Reign of Warne, H., & Hughes, A., Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield Henry VIII’, SAC 114 (1976), 1-26, at 16-17, 23. (forthcoming). 35 11 Warne, H., abstract from, Warne, H., & Hughes, A., West Sussex Record Office (WSRO) Sergison 526/1. Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield (forthcoming). 12 WSRO Add Ms 28784. 36 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 13 Pers. comm. Heather Warne, citing ESRO ref. Acc 363/48. 14. 37 14 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 147. Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 157. 38 Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 47.

32 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

39 WSRO Add Ms 28784. 58 Ford, W. K., and Gabe, A. C., The Metropolis of Mid Sussex: a History of Haywards Heath (1981), 25-6. 40 Pennington, J., ‘Inns and Alehouses in 1686’, in Leslie, K. and Short, B. (eds.), An Historical Atlas of Sussex (1999), 59 Ford, W. K., and Gabe, A. C., The Metropolis of Mid 68-9. Sussex: a History of Haywards Heath (1981), 39. 41 Johnston, G. D., Abstract of Turnpike Acts relating to 60 Ford, W. K., and Gabe, A. C., The Metropolis of Mid Sussex (transcript at SAS, c.1948), 6. Sussex: a History of Haywards Heath (1981), 39-45. 42 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 61 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 57, 180. 201. 43 Cleere, H., and Crossley, D., The iron Industry of the 62 Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 87. Weald (revised edition, 1995). 63 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 157. 44 Ibid., 337; Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of 64 Cuckfield (1912), 73, 76-8, 102-11. Ford, W. K., and Gabe, A. C., The Metropolis of Mid Sussex: a History of Haywards Heath (1981), 93. 45 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 65 156. Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 148; Ford, W. K., and Gabe, A. C., The Metropolis of Mid Sussex: 46 Ibid. a History of Haywards Heath (1981), 91,106. 47 Heather Warne suggests that disparking may have begun 66 Godfrey, J., ‘Local Government in the 19th and 20th through neglect after the death of the 4th Earl of Arundel in Centuries’, in Leslie, K. and Short, B. (eds.), An Historical 1397: Warne, H., abstract from, Warne, H., & Hughes, A., Atlas of Sussex (1999), 126-7; Ford, W. K., and Gabe, A. C., Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield (forthcoming). The Metropolis of Mid Sussex: a History of Haywards Heath (1981), 135-9. 48 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 149, 156- 7; Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 67 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 77-8. NB Salzman dates the disparking to the 15th century 169; Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 102; and Cooper to 1618; likewise Salzman dates Bowyer’s 2001 decennial census. purchase to 1575 and Cooper to 1573. Cooper’s dating of 68 the reset fireplace in the dining room to 1574 seems to be in Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 84. error, since the more detailed account in the VCH reads it as 69 Ibid., 99. 1594. Since Salzman, and his contributors, had the benefit of Cooper’s works, the VCH dates are here taken as the most 70 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), reliable. 65; Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 148. 49 Warne, H., abstract from, Warne, H., & Hughes, A., 71 Elleray, D. R., Sussex Places of Worship: A Gazetteer of Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield (forthcoming). Buildings erected between c1760 and c1960 (2004), 19;

50 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), Cornwall, J. (ed.), ‘The Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of 147. Sussex 1524-25’, SRS 56 (1956): 86-7; Cornwall, J., ‘Sussex Wealth and Society in the Reign of Henry VIII’, SAC 114 72 Page, W., (ed.), Victoria County History 2 (1907), 421; (1976), 15-16; Cooper, J. H., ‘A Religious Census of Sussex Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), in 1676’, SAC 45 (1902), 142-8, at 144; Ford, W. K., (ed.), 142-5; Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), ‘Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724’, SRS 78 76.

(1994), 128; Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of 73 Cuckfield (1912), 169. The calculations for total populations Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), are the author’s and are necessarily indicative, with the 147-8. following multipliers used: 131% for surveys of adults (1676), 74 Ibid., 82-7; Ford, W., and Rogers, L.,The Story of 450% for families (1724), and 490% for taxpayers (1524). Haywards Heath (1998), 111. 51 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 75 Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 103. 126-30, 140-1. 76 Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 74-5. 52 Cooper, J. H., ‘A Religious Census of Sussex in 1676’, SAC 45 (1902), 144; Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex 77 Wells, R., ‘The Poor Law 1700-1900’, in Leslie, K. and town (1971), 49; Ford, W. K., (ed.), ‘Chichester Diocesan Short, B. (eds.), An Historical Atlas of Sussex (1999), 70-1. Surveys 1686 and 1724’, SRS 78 (1994), 128. 78 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 53 Elleray, D. R., Sussex Places of Worship: A Gazetteer of 172, 175; Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), Buildings erected between c1760 and c1960 (2004), 19. 99. 54 Page, W., (ed.), Victoria County History 2 (1907), 416-21; 79 Ford, W. K., and Gabe, A. C., The Metropolis of Mid Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 148; Sussex: a History of Haywards Heath (1981), 106. Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), 80 Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 80. 123-48. 81 55 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 89. 59, 108. 82 Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 97-8. 56 Wright, M., Cuckfield – an old Sussex town (1971), 66. 83 Anon, Cuckfield Cricket Club History (2004; available 57 Cooper, J. H., A History of the Parish of Cuckfield (1912), through website at www.cuckfieldcc.co.uk). 178-201. 84 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 160-1.

33 Sussex EUS – Cuckfield

85 James, R., An Archaeological Watching Brief at Marshalls, High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex (unpubl. Archaeology South-East report, project no. 957, 1998); Butler, C., Some Medieval and later activity at Cuckfield, West Sussex: Excavations at Marshalls Manor (unpubl. Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team report, 2003). 86 Aldsworth, F., & Freke, D., Historic Towns in Sussex: an archaeological survey (1976), 26-7. 87 Gardiner, M., ‘Trade, Rural Industry and the Origins of Villages: some Evidence form South-East England’, in de Boe, G., & Verhaeghe, F., (eds.), Rural Settlements in Medieval Europe: Papers of the Medieval Europe Brugge 1997 Conference 6 (1997), 63-73. 88 Ibid. 89 Mawer, A, & Stenton, F.M., The Place-names of Sussex (1929-30; reprinted 2001), 266. 90 Mawer, A, & Stenton, F.M., The Place-names of Sussex (1929-30; reprinted 2001), 264. 91 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 157. 92 Warne, H., abstract from, Warne, H., & Hughes, A., Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield (forthcoming). 93 Ibid. 94 Gardiner, M., ‘Trade, Rural Industry and the Origins of Villages: some Evidence form South-East England’, in de Boe, G., & Verhaeghe, F., (eds.), Rural Settlements in Medieval Europe: Papers of the Medieval Europe Brugge 1997 Conference 6 (1997), 63-73. 95 Dating of Crundens, pers. comm. Dr Annabelle Hughes. 96 James, R., An Archaeological Watching Brief at Marshalls, High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex (unpubl. Archaeology South-East report, project no. 957, 1998); Butler, C., Some Medieval and later activity at Cuckfield, West Sussex: Excavations at Marshalls Manor (unpubl. Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team report, 2003). 97 Griffin, N., An Archaeological Evaluation of Land West of High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex (unpubl. Archaeology South-East report, project no. 2046, 2005), 6-7. 98 Pers. comm. Dr Annabelle Hughes. 99 James, R., An Archaeological Watching Brief at Marshalls, High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex (unpubl. Archaeology South-East report, project no. 957, 1998); Butler, C., Some Medieval and later activity at Cuckfield, West Sussex: Excavations at Marshalls Manor (unpubl. Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team report, 2003). 100 Warne, H., abstract from, Warne, H., & Hughes, A., Medieval and Tudor Cuckfield (forthcoming). 101 Listed building data is drawn from the statutory lists produced by English Heritage, but has been amended – especially in regard to the dating – during the Sussex EUS. The GIS data prepared during the Sussex EUS contains the full references to the sources for revised dates: in many cases these come from fieldwork undertaken by the author. 102 Salzman, L. F., Victoria County History 7 (1940), 158-9.

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